John 7:23-24 English Standard Version

23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Analysis of scriptures should begin with three simple principles, 1 who is speaking, 2 who is listening and 3 what are the circumstances.

1 Jesus is speaking, 2 the crowd in the temple listened, 3 Jesus had just taught in the temple V 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.”

Jesus speaks to the issue of the law and the Sabbath but Jesus had not healed anyone on the Sabbath this day. The question of right judgment refers back to His proclaiming He is the One sent by God the Father into the world. Jesus is not asking them to judge His healing practices but rather to rightly judge if He is the Messiah.

John 7:25-26 English Standard Version

Can This Be the Christ?

25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?

Right judgment brings into question the validity of those things we believe because of what we have been taught and hold to be true.

Right judgment is our only defense in true faith, sound doctrine and false teachings.

They had Jesus to hear in real time. We have the Holy Spirit to render the truth in all that Jesus has to say. They have the authority to speak for God the Father and that is what was in question, “by what authority?”

1 Corinthians 1:10 English Standard Version (ESV) I appeal to you, brothers,[and sisters] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

It is obvious that we are to judge rightly but we will find a variety of text on the subject that might render confusion if not viewed in context correctly.

Before we move on to any other text and context let us examine the positive aspect of judgment spoken of here in 1 Corinthians 1.

During our bible studies we should acknowledge that every believer in the study has the spirit of truth speaking to each of us. We must also find a measure of grace in our conversations to acknowledge that the Holy Spirit brings to each person what is needed for individual growth and level of maturity. Babes in Christ need to grow as the Spirit feeds them and not be force fed strong meat. The bible is clear on that subject.

The only way a broad spectrum of maturity in a group can come to unity in the same mind is to find that unity in Christ who is loving and kind and asks us to suffer little children. We must be considerate of the maturity of some and remember that discipleship is a loving ministry and not one of superior intellect.

1 Corinthians 8:11-12 English Standard Version

11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers[and sisters] and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

We have nothing to prove in our studies together except perhaps that Christ is in our midst and that we acknowledge His right to form the consensus for the group as a body and not what has been done in us as individuals.

Judgment here is rendering the truth in the moment that is good for everyone’s sake.